Antenna support bracket



May 9, 1967 A. A. FINKE ETAL l 3,318,561

ANTENNA SUPPORT BRACKET Filed May l2, 1965 l 42 t t a I /6 2q I United States Patent C) 3,318,561 ANTENNA SUPPORT BRACKET Arthur A. Finke, Newbury, Larry H. Kline, Beachwood, and Harold Pikler and Archibald Robertson, Jr., South Euclid, Ohio, assignors to Antenna Specialists Co., a corporation of Ohio Filed May 12, 1965, Ser. No. 455,262 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-229) This invention relates to an antenna suppor-t bracket for mounting on an upstanding mast a plurality of antenna units which are spaced apart laterally around the mast.

Various antenna assemblies have been proposed heretofore in which a plurality of generally horizontal, rigid larms or booms are attached at their inner ends to an upstanding mast and at their outer ends support the radiating elements of individual antenna units in the assembly. Usually such horizontal antenna-supporting booms have been attached to the vmast by a plurality of individual support brackets, one for each antenna-supporting boom. In such antenna assemblies, for proper broadcast or reception it is important that the several individual antenna units be properly positioned with respect to each other and therefore the corresponding horizontal booms must have a predetermined angular relationship with respect to one another, extending laterally outward from the mast in substantially the same horizontal plane. This required careful mounting of their individual brackets on the mast. Another diculty was that the individual support brackets were each designed for attachment to a mast of a specific size Iand could not 'be used on diiterent lsized masts, so that a different set of mounting brackets would have to be provided for each diierent size of mast encountered in actual use.

The present invention is directed to a novel support bracket which overcomes these diiiiculties.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel and -improved support bracket having provision for positively establishing the positional relationships of a plurality of individual antenna supporting booms, so that the antenna units attached to the outer ends of these booms will be properly positioned with respect to each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a support bracket which is adapted to be mounted on masts of different sizes.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a support bracket which is adapted to receive the mast I within the bracket, rather than having the mast external to the bracket.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a support bracket which provides an extremely rigid support for the laterally extending booms in an antenna assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a support bracket which may be quickly and easily installed and which is inexpensive.

Further objects and Iadvantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of two presently-preferred embodiments thereof, which are shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FEGURE 1 is a perspective view ot a first support bracket in accordance with the present invention for mounting three horizontal booms on an upstanding mast;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the FIG. 1 bracket attached to the mast; which is shown in phantom;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the plates in the FIG. 1 bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view of another of the plates in the FIG. 1 bracket; and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a second support bracket in accordance with the present invention for mounting either two or four horizontal booms on the mast, shown in phantom.

Referring iirst to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, this bracket comprises three rigid metal plates 10, 11 and 12 which are bolted together to provide a hollow structure which is generally triangular in plan View, yas shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rst bracket plate 10 is generally at and rectangular and has an integral iiange 13 at its left edge 14 which extends at lan angle of substantially 60 to the plane of this plate. This plate has integral coplanar extensions 15 and 16 at its upper and lower ends which project beyond the respective end edges of the -ange 13.

The upper end extension 15 has a pair of laterally spaced holes 17 and 18 which respectively receive the opposite legs 19 and 20 of an upper U-bolt 21, as shown in FlG. l. Similarly, the lower end extension 16 of the iirst plate 10 has a pair of laterally spaced openings -22 and 23 which respectively receive the opposite legs of a lower U-bolt 24 (FIG. 1). The respective bight portions of these U-bolts are disposed within the triangular ontline of the three attached bracket plates 10-12 in plan view (FIG. 2).

The iirst plate 10 has a pair of vertically spaced openings 25 and 26 toward its right edge in FIGS. 1 and 3 which are aligned vertically with the respective openings 18 and 23 in its upper and lower extensions 1S and 16, as well as a similar pair of openings toward its left edge which are hidden in the drawing and are aligned vertically with the remaining openings 17 and 22 in its upper and lower extensions. The ange 13 has a pair of open ings 27 and 23 (FIG. 3) which are horizontally aligned respectively with the openings 25 and 26.

The second plate 11 (FIG. 4) in the bracket assembly is identical to the rst plate lil, except that it does not have the upper and lower extensions projecting above and below its flange. Corresponding elements of the second plate 11 Vare given the same reference numerals as for the first plate, but with a prime superscript added.

The third plate 12 is identical t-o the second plate 11, and its flange is designated by the reference numeral 13a in FIG. 2.

The three plates are bolted together, as shown in FIGS. l and 2 with the tlange 13 lon the irst -plat-e 10 extending contiguous to the at inside face of the second plate 11 at the opposite side of the latter from its flange 13'. The ange 13' on the second plate 11 extends contiguous to the rtlat inside face of the third plate 12 at the opposite side of the latter from its flange 13a. The ange 13a on the third plate 12 extends contiguous to the flat inside face of the lirst :plate 10 at the side where the openings 25 and 26 in the latter are located. The two openings in each -ange register with the corresponding -pair of openings in the next plate which it underlies, and respective pairs of upper and lower bolts 29, 29 and 29a pass through these registering openings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lirst plate 10 of the bracket carries a boom-receiving channel-shaped clamp 30 having top, bottom and front walls 31, 32 and 33 respectively which, together with the at outer face of the bracket plate 10, deiine a rectangular recess for receiving the inner end of a horizontal boom 34 (FIG. 2). At its left end in FIG. l, the front wall 33 of this channel has an inwardlybent tab 35 which acts as an abutment for engagement by the laterally inward end of boom 34. The front wall 33 of channel 30 has an integral, inwardly-depressed detent 52 which is adapted to cooperate with a complementary detent on the boom 34 to releasably lock the latter in place.

Channel 30 has top and bottom vertical anges 36 and 37,

Ywhich are integrally connected respectively to the inner edges of the top and bottom walls of the channel and' pair of vertically spaced openings which register with the corresponding openings in the rst plate of the bracket to receive respective upper and lower bolts 40. A lockV washer 41 and a nut 42 are attached to each bolt'4t) to clamp this end of bracket 30 to the outside of the' rst bracket plate 10. Y

An identical second channel 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is at- 'tached in the same manner to the outside of the second bracket plate 11, and its receives the inner end of a second horizontal,antenna-supporting boom 34' (FIG. 2)'. Cor- Vresponding elements of this second channel and its at-V tachment members are given the same reference numerals as for the first channel, but with a prime superscript added.

An identical third channel 30a (FIG. 2) is attached to the outside of the third bracket plate 12 in the same manner, andYthis third channel receives the inner end of a third horizontal, antenna supporting boom 34a (FIG. 2).

Corresponding elements of this third channel and its at- Y tachment members are given the Vsame reference numerals i Yas for kthe rsrt channel, but with the sufi-ix a added.

Asshown inV FIG. 2, thisrbracket assembly is generally triangular, viewed from the top, with the three bracket plateslt), 11 and 12 forming the three'sides ofthe triangle and with the three boom-receiving channel-shaped clamps 30, 30"and 30a and the respective outsides faces of these f plates defining horizontal recesses for receiving the inner ends ofthe respective booms 34,V 34 and 34a, so'that theseY V booms extend horizontallyoutward from the bracket assembly atrlZO"V angles with respect to each other. Each Vof these booms atV its laterally loutward end` (remote from the mounting bracket) supports a suitable antenna unit, not shown, which may, for example,rbe a center-fed dipole having upper andV lower vertically disposed radiating elements; The booms are tightly clampedY frictionally be-Y tween these channels and the outside `of the respective bracket plates. Y Y 1 AsV shown in FIG. 1, the upper U-bolt 21 at its respective opposite legs 19 and 20 carries lock washers 43, 44 and nuts 45, 46 at the outside of the upper end extension Y of the :lirst bracket plate 10. Similarly, the opposite Y legs of thelower U-bolt 24 carry lock washers 47, 48 and" nuts 49, 50 at the outside of the lower end extensionl of this plate.

Theentre bracket may be slipped down over the upper fend of a mast, shown in phantom at 51 in FIG. 2, with the mast receivedbetween each U-bolts 21 and 24 and the flat yinside face of the ylirst bracket plate 10, and their the'nuts Y`45,A 46, 49 and'50 will'be tightened to cause the mast to be gripped securely between U-bolts21` andr24'anrdV the iirst bracket-plate 10. This mounting of the bracket'onto the `mast can be performed quickly and easily. From FIG.

2it will be 'apparent that the'mast 51Ymay be larger or smallerin cross-section than shown, the maximum size limitbeing dependentupon the spacing between the Yopposite legs of each U-bolt, kwhich in turn depends primarily upon the width of the irst bracket plate 10 which supportsrit. In one speciiic embodiment, the present bracket Vmay be used on any mast within the size'range from about 1 inch to 2 inches outside diameter. Consequently,

in"accordance with the presentinvention, a'bracket of oneVV be used on a Vrelatively wide size range of given size may masts. n

The entire assembly is exceptionally rigid, both as to the attachment of the bracket to the mast and as to theV attachment of the antenna-supporting horizontal booms to the bracket, with the bracket itself positively locating the booms angularly with respect to each other Without Vrequiring any adjustments by the person who mounts the bracket on the mast.

FIGURE 5 shows a second embodiment of this invention which is intended for the support of four antennas at intervals around the opstanding mast. This assembly,

comprises four bracket plates 60, 60a, 6lb and 60C, having Y* A respective anges 61, 61a, 6lb and 61e at one side edge thereof which extend at 90 angles to the respective plates. Three of these plates, 60a, 60h and 60e, are identical to each other, and the other plate 60 is identical to them except that it has coplanar extensions at its upper and lower ends similar to the extensions 15 and 16 on the tirst platef 10 of the bracket of FIGS. 1-4. These fourYplates support Y If desired, of course, the bracket of FIG. 5 may be used Y Y to support just two horizontal booms extending in op'- Y posite directions laterally away from the mast.

The principles of the present invention may be embodied in a similar bracket designed to,v support live, six or any desired number of antenna-supporting booms simply by the appropriate choice` of theV angularity of each flange with respect to the Ybracket plate to whichV it is integrally connected. For example, in .aV six-.plate bracket, each flange Vshould extend at substantially Y with respectV to its plate, so that the assembled bracket in plan viewrwill have sixV substantially Yequal sides. Y

Accordingly, whileYtwo specific presently-preferrerrd-emV Y Y Y bodirnentsrof this invention have been shownrand de-YS scribed, itto be understood thatthe bracket is susceptible of otherY structural embodiments without departing fromYY the spirit and scope of the present invention. Forexample, the boom-receiving clamps on thebracket may beVV shaped Vto receive antenna-supporting booms ofYV circular or otherY cross-section, as well as the section shown.`

We claim: Y

1. An antenna support bracket for' attachment to az Y mast comprising a plurality of plates attached to Vand, .f angularly disposed with respect to Yeachothertoprovide A. Y arholiow tubular structurerof polygonal cross-section" to l surround the mast, bracket clampin'gYmeansY carriedaby" v one of said plates and extending inwardly therefromfforL engagement with the mast, and. boom-clamping means ,orr the outside of certain of said plates, at least, for clamp-5v ing engagement with respective `antenna-supporting boomsp Y Y vextending laterally of the plates and disposedk withV ref j spect to eachother at an angularity determined by Vthe #angular disposition of the plates to which said Vbooms are clamped, whereby actuation of said/bracket clampingY means to clamp the bracket to `a mast will not'distort the angularity of said booms with respect to each other.V y

- 2. An antenna support bracket for attachment -to Y'af' receiving the mast, clamps on the outside of each of said Y plates providing laterally extending recesses thereat,V for receiving respective antenna-supporting booms, eachboom Y extending laterally of the plate to which it is clamped andV :at an `angularity with respect to an Vadjacent boom prede-Y termined by the angular disposition ofthe plates to which rectangular cross? Y Y said booms are clamped, and U-bolts ca-rried by one of said plates and having respective bight portions disposed inside the hollow outline of the plates for clamping the mast against the inside of said one plate, whereby tightening of said U-bolts to secure said bracket to a mast will not distort the predetermined angularity of said booms with respect to each other.

3. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending antenna-supporting booms on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising a plurality of plates which together make up a hollow structure, said plates being attached to each other at angularly extending side anges thereon, a plurality of clamps .at the outside of the respective plates providing respective laterally extending recesses for receiving the inner ends of respective antenna-supporting booms, a pair of -U-bolts carried by one of said plates and each having its bight portion disposed inside the outline of the attached plates for clamping the mast against the inside of said one plate, and nuts threadedly engaging said U-bolts at the outside of said one plate for tightening the U-bolts against the mast.

4. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending antenna-supporting booms on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising a plurality of generally at plates, a ange integral with each plate and extending angularly from one side edge thereof, said plates being positioned to form a generally polygonal structure with each angularly disposed flange on one plate extending contiguous to the inside face of the next plate in the polygonal structure, a plurality of clamps at the outside of the respective plates providing respective laterally extending recesses for receiving the inner ends of respective booms, a plurality of bolt and nut assemblies attaching said clamps to the respective plates, certain of said bolt and nut assemblies attaching both the respective clamp and the flange on the next plate to the respective plate, and mast clamping means carried by one of the plates and extending into the space between the plates for clamping the bracket to the mast.

5. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending antenna-supporting booms on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising a plurality of generally nat plates, a ange integral with each plate and extending angularly from one side edge thereof, said plates being positioned to form a generally polygonal structure with each angularly disposed flange on one plate extending contiguous to the inside face ofthe next plate in the polygonal structure, a plurality of channels at the outside of the respective plates, each channel and the outside of the respective plate together defining a laterally extending recess for receiving the inner end of a respective boom, a .plurality of bolt and nut assemblies attaching said channels to the respective plates, certain of said bolt and nut assemblies attaching both the respective channel and the ange on the next plate to the respective plate, U-bolts carried by one of the plates and each having its bight portion disposed between the plates for clamping the mast against the inside face of said one plate, and nuts threadedly engaging said U-bolts at the outside of said one plate for tightening the bracket against the mast.

6. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending antenna-supporting boomsv on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising at least three generally flat plates attached along parallel edges to one another to provide a hollow tubula-r structure of polygonal cross-section, a plurality of clamps respectively attached to the outside of said plates for receiving respective antenna-supporting booms, one of said plates having upper and lower extensions projecting above and below the top and bottom of the other plates, upper and lower U-bolts carried respectively by said upper and lower extensions and having their respective bight portions disposed inside the outline of the attached plates for clamping the mast against the inside of said one plate, and nuts threadedly engaging said U-bolts at the outside of said `one plate for tightening the bracket against the mast.

7. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending .antenna-supporting booms on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising a plurality of generally 'flat plates, each of said plates having an integral ilange extending angularly from one side edge thereof, each plate having its ange lying contiguous tov the inside face of another plate at the latters opposite side edge and said plates being arranged adjoining one another to provide a polygonal hollow structure, a plurality of clamps respectively located at the outside faces of said plates and providing respective later-ally extending recesses for receiving the inner ends of respective antenna-supporting booms, a plurality of threadedly engaged nuts and bolts attaching said clamps to the respective plates, certain of said nuts and bolts attaching both the -respective clamp and the contiguous ange on the next plate to the respective plate, one of said plates hav- .ing upper and lower extensions projecting above and below the top .and bottom of the other plates, upper and lower U-bolts carried respectively by said upper and lower extensions and having their respective bight portions disposed inside the polygonal outline of the attached plates for clamping the mast against the inside face of said one plate, and nuts threadedly engaging said U-bolts -at the outside of said one plate for tightening the bracket against the mast.

8. An antenna support bracket for mounting a plurality of laterally extending antenna-supporting booms on an upstanding mast, said bracket comprising a plurality of generally flat plates, each of said plates having an integral flange extending angularly from one side edge thereof, each plate having its flange lying contiguous to the inside face of another plate at the latters opposite side edge and said plates being arranged adjoining one another to provide a polygonal hollow structure, a plurality of channels respectively located yat the outside faces of said plates, each channel and the outside face of the respective plate together dening a laterally extending recess for receiving the inner end of a respective .antenna-supporting boom, -a plurality of threadedly engaged nuts and bolts attaching said channels to the respective plates, certain of said nuts and bolts attaching both the respective channel and the contiguous flange on the next plate to the respective plate, one of said plates having upper and lower extensions projecting above and below the top and bottom of the other plates, upper and lower U-bolts carried respectively by said upper and lower extensions and having their respective bight portions disposed inside the polygonal outline of the attached plates for clamping the mast against the inside face of said one plate, and nuts threadedly engaging said `U-bolts at the outside of said one plate for tightening the bracket against the mast.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,800 10/1918 Lustig i 287-54 3,001,195 9/ 1961 Winegard 343-864 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ANTENNA SUPPORT BRACKET FOR ATTACHMENT TO A MAST COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PLATES ATTACHED TO AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A HOLLOW TUBULAR STRUCTURE OF POLYGONAL CROSS-SECTION TO SURROUND THE MAST, BRACKET CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID PLATES AND EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREFROM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MAST, AND BOOM-CLAMPING MEANS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CERTAIN OF SAID PLATES, AT LEAST, FOR CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECTIVE ANTENNA-SUPPORTING BOOMS EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE PLATES AND DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AT AN ANGULARITY DETERMINED BY THE ANGULAR DISPOSITION OF THE PLATES TO WHICH SAID BOOMS ARE CLAMPED, WHEREBY ACTUATION OF SAID BRACKET CLAMPING MEANS TO CLAMP THE BRACKET TO A MAST WILL NOT DISTORT THE ANGULARITY OF SAID BOOMS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER. 